Question

Whom has Ācārya Dharmakīrti bowed to in the text of Pramāṇavārttika?

• A. Samantabhadra
• B. Mahāvīra
• C. Koṇāgamana
• D. Tārā

Hint:

In Sanskrit entrance exams, questions about the "Maṅgalācaraṇa" of major texts are common. Always memorize the first word or the deity mentioned in the opening lines of major works like Pramāṇasamuccaya (Dignāga) and Pramāṇavārttika (Dharmakīrti).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Pramāṇavārttika is a foundational text on Buddhist logic and epistemology (Pramāṇavāda), written by the great 7th-century scholar Ācārya Dharmakīrti. In the tradition of Indian Shastras, every major work begins with a Maṅgalācaraṇa (an auspicious invocation or salutation) where the author bows to their deity or an embodiment of ultimate truth to ensure the successful completion of the work.

Step 1: Examining the opening verse (Maṅgalācaraṇa) of Pramāṇavārttika.
The Pramāṇavārttika begins with a very famous verse that serves as a salutation. The verse is: \[ \text{vidhūtakalpanājālagambhīrodāramūrtaye |} \] \[ \text{namaḥ samantabhadrāya samantajvalatiteje ||} \] This translates to: "Salutations to the one who is Samantabhadra (the Universally Good/Auspicious), whose profound and magnificent form has shaken off the web of conceptual construction (kalpanā), and whose glory shines everywhere."

Step 2: Interpreting the term "Samantabhadra" in this context.
In this specific philosophical context, "Samantabhadra" can be interpreted in two ways:
• The Bodhisattva: Samantabhadra is one of the eight great Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, representing the "Great Conduct" and universal goodness.
• An Epithet for the Buddha: Many commentators (like Manorathanandin) suggest that Dharmakīrti is using "Samantabhadra" as a descriptive name for the Buddha himself, who has attained the state of being "wholly good" in every aspect and has transcended conceptual thought (Kalpanā). Regardless of the theological interpretation, the specific word used in the text to whom the bow is directed is Samantabhadra.

Step 3: Evaluating why other options are incorrect.
Let us look at the other names provided:
• (2) Mahāvīra: He is the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. Since Dharmakīrti was a Buddhist monk and a staunch critic of non-Buddhist logic, he would not start his Buddhist treatise with a salutation to the Jain Tirthankara.
• (3) Koṇāgamana: He is one of the "Past Buddhas" mentioned in Buddhist tradition. While he is a Buddha, the specific text of Pramāṇavārttika does not address him in its opening.
• (4) Tārā: She is a major female deity (Bodhisattva) in Vajrayana Buddhism. While Dharmakīrti was associated with Nalanda (where Tantra later flourished), the Pramāṇavārttika is a text of pure logic and follows the standard Mahayana salutation style of its time, which specifically uses the name Samantabhadra.

Step 4: Final Verification.
The textual evidence from the Pramāṇavārttika-kārikā confirms that the author offers his respects to Samantabhadra. This choice of words highlights Dharmakīrti's goal: to describe a source of knowledge (Pramāṇa) that is free from the distortions of the mind's conceptual web.